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I currently drive in the British Junior Rally Championship for 14-17 year olds. Although I'm only 15 at the moment, the time has come to start thinking about building a car for when I turn 17. As we can't afford to spend a load of money on a car in one big chunk, we decided to start building one now to spread the cost over the next year and a bit. Anyway, picked this up yesterday, it will be stripped to a bare shell and built back up with a 1400 Zetec Engine for BTRDA 1400S. Bear with me as progress will be steady
Looks a good base. Good little car these, and no shortage of bits around. Look forward to seeing it progress. The 1400 championship seems really competitive with some nice little cars in it.
Unsure of detailed spec yet, going to convert it to LHD. Probably wont run with throttle bodies for my first season whilst I get to grips with a new car and going into the forest for my first time. Proflex suspension, Cybox custom made exhaust system - they made one for the micra and had some great power gains.
Any advice would be much appreciated, what brake upgrades are available whilst keeping 14 inch rims? Thinking of getting the Custom Cages 2004 int weld in cage, has anybody bought from them and recommend them or not?
Guess brakes would depend on your budget, plenty of 4pot kits available from the likes of wildwood or AP racing. Believe custom cages to have a good reputation, so you should be ok there.
I don't know if you know a chap called Miles Johnston he has been on the rally scene for years.
He has a LHD completely solid brand new shell from the original KA championship days.
I don't have his number im afraid maybe some use to you that's all
I don't know if you know a chap called Miles Johnston he has been on the rally scene for years.
He has a LHD completely solid brand new shell from the original KA championship days.
I don't have his number im afraid maybe some use to you that's all
Alright,
I think I've heard of him but I don't know him personally. We are going to swap this shell over to lhd once it's a bare shell, we've got an LHD dashboard and rack sorted already.
Not been able to touch the Ka yet been flat out getting the micra ready for next weekend at Anglesey in between school work.
I've heard custom cages are custom because not one cage is the same lol, a bitch to fit. Safe bet is always safety devices if they do them for the KA more than likely.
I've heard custom cages are custom because not one cage is the same lol, a bitch to fit. Safe bet is always safety devices if they do them for the KA more than likely.
Safety Devices do a cage for the Ka but it's bolt in and we want a weld in unfortunately, cheers though
Main focus has been the juniors as it was round 2 last weekend, sadly a broken driveshaft led to an early bath.
I am now in my Easter break and have 2 weeks off school. I spent the past 2 days making some room in the shed to put the Ka in, and tomorrow I'll start the strip down. Picture of the car tucked away.
Been working away on my own for the past couple of weeks, trying to balance time in the garage with school work etc
Quite happy with the progress considering I've done it all by myself so far. The engine and box are coming out next weekend all being well. So many wires !
Cheers, I was going to take out the engine this weekend but the person we normally borrow the hoist off is using it, so it will have to be another weekend.
Looks great so far mate, bet junior rallying its mad fun. Depending on your budget there are some great cheaper mods for the KA:
You can use the Mondeo V6 300mm brakes, the linkage from a Puma is a great upgrade as its much more direct and shorter shift and then you could go front and rear wheel spacers with longer studs then some wider 16's to fit over the brakes
Cheers guys, much appreciated and thanks for the advice.
Rear beam off and radiator out, more sound deadening removed from inside
Thinking of doing rear disc conversion at the back, has anyone done this before? Hate working with drums, thinking of a proper set up at the front 4pot tarox calipers and 300mm discs, then rears just standard disc set up from a fiesta St or something? What do you think?
Also just looking and sportkas have nearly 2 inch wider track at the front than standard models like mine. What do I need to convert mine to this hubs shafts etc?
Christ that was a lot of wiring! Its getting there with you, if you want to do BTRDA then I'm afraid you'll probably have to spend a lot of money, the front runners in that class run 200bhp and sequential gearboxes! Mad I know!
Hi guys sorry it's been a long time, been busy on the micra and trying to get some money together for the Ka! Got my first podium last weekend at Weeton in the micra
Anyway here's the Ka, ready to go for acid dipping, seam welding, full weld in cage, seat rails and sill stands during the week. Probably won't have it back for a month or so. Then we are going to do some other fab work on it, strut tops etc... Also a question what do people reckon to OBP pedal boxes? Tempted to order the floor mounted one, but need to get it soon so that I can get the seat rails positioned right for it
Good progress so far! I've got a pair of mintex 300mm focus st170 discs and mondeo calipers with mintex pads (all brand new bar the calipers) you could have for Ł100?? They bolt straight on iirc as I had them on mine but my wheels were too small so they came straight back off
As far as the back end goes, I wanted to go disc conversion myself but was warned against it as a few of the lads on the Ka forum had tried it on track cars and even with a bias controller it was too much with how light the Kas are. I'm gonna go for the drums off a puma or focus etc I think.
Where is it you're having the shell dipped? Do they coat it again as well or is it just the acid dip?
Let us know how you get on with the roll cage, think I'm just gonna go for the safety devices bolt in one so I can sell it when I inevitably get bored
Hi guys sorry it's been a long time, been busy on the micra and trying to get some money together for the Ka! Got my first podium last weekend at Weeton in the micra
Anyway here's the Ka, ready to go for acid dipping, seam welding, full weld in cage, seat rails and sill stands during the week. Probably won't have it back for a month or so. Then we are going to do some other fab work on it, strut tops etc... Also a question what do people reckon to OBP pedal boxes? Tempted to order the floor mounted one, but need to get it soon so that I can get the seat rails positioned right for it
Cheers
in my opinion obp pedal boxes are shite , crap quality
Solid mate!! Only thing is I am fitting a new rear quarter panel on the right side as it was dented quite badly, Cat C write off which is why I managed to get it cheap. But no rust other than a tiny bit of bubbling round the petrol cap which has cleaned off nicely in the acid.
Hi another small update nothing exciting, but I've been collecting all the bits I need to convert the car to left hand drive when it comes back from having the roll cage fitted. I've got everything I need now
I'll flock the dash and all small details like that but I need to cut it to fit around the cage first. Hoping I'll have the car back soon!
08-03-2015, 04:30 PM
1400 Ka Rally Build
